Chattisgarh High Court
Arjun Singh vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 16 March, 2026
Author: Ramesh Sinha
Bench: Ramesh Sinha
1
2026:CGHC:12556
NAFR
HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
MCRC No. 9378 of 2025
Arjun Singh S/o Brahmdev Aged About 24 Years R/o Siyamal Pataini Hathras
Thana Mursan Distt.- Hathras (U.P.)
... Applicant
versus
State of Chhattisgarh Through Police Station- Purani Basti Distt.- Raipur (C.G.)
... Non-applicant
For Applicant : Mr. Vikas A. Shrivastava, Advocate
For Non-Applicant/State : Mr. Sourabh Sahu, Panel Lawyer.
Digitally
Hon'ble Mr. Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice
signed by
ABHISHEK
ABHISHEK SHRIVAS
SHRIVAS Date:
2026.03.17
16:39:22
+0530 Order on Board
16.03.2026
1.This is the first bail application filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the applicant who has been arrested in connection with Crime No. 282/2025 registered at Police Station Purani Basti, District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.
2. The brief facts of the case are that the complainant, Rameshwar Prasad Dewangan, submitted a written application to Police Station Purani Basti, stating that he resides at Street No. 1, behind Sheetla Mandir, Purani Basti, Raipur. He is a retired Assistant Grade-III officer who had served 2 on deputation in the Education Department. He stated that at about 1:30 A.M. on 14.07.2025, he received an anonymous call on his mobile number 9993383382, which he could not answer. Approximately 15 minutes later, he received another call from mobile number 918923427749, wherein the caller stated that he was calling from the Telephone Department and informed him that his number was being temporarily suspended for investigation purposes and that for further information he should press 0 or 9. Upon pressing 0, he was informed that FIR No. MH5621/0425 had been registered in his name and that his number was being temporarily suspended for investigation. Thereafter, at about 3:45 P.M., the name Rajneesh Mishra appeared on his phone from another unknown number 916026940342, after which the name disappeared. He subsequently received a photograph and certain messages on his WhatsApp number 6260091440. He was asked to view the photograph and identify a person whose name was stated to be Naresh Goyal, to which he replied that he did not know the said person. Thereafter, a photograph of his Canara Bank ATM card was sent to him and he was informed that the said ATM card had been found during a raid conducted at the house of the said Goyal, which was allegedly being investigated by the CBI, and that he would be required to appear for recording his statement. When he refused to go, he was threatened with arrest. Being a senior citizen, he was told that his statement could be recorded online, for which he was required to send a request letter. He wrote a letter and sent it, which was allegedly accepted by the CBI, and a copy of the same was sent to him through WhatsApp with a seal and stamp. It is alleged that a video call was continuously conducted through WhatsApp and he was directed to deposit money. Being frightened, on 15.07.2025 at 13:33 hours, he transferred Rs. 4,00,000/- from his Punjab 3 National Bank Account No. 2966000400075737 to Account No. 00510777875190001. On 16.07.2025, he transferred Rs. 17,00,000/-
from his SBI Account No. 30653616149 to Account No. 921020039859529, and on 17.07.2025, he transferred Rs. 3,00,000/-
from his Punjab National Bank account to Account No. 2395110210050539. It is alleged that by making calls from various mobile numbers, threatening him with arrest and intimidating him, the accused persons committed a fraud of Rs. 14,00,000/-. On the basis of the report lodged by the complainant, Police Station Purani Basti registered Crime No. 282/2025 for the offence punishable under Section 318(4) of the Indian Penal Code and took up the matter for investigation. During the course of investigation, the present applicant was arrested.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. He submits that the allegations levelled by the prosecution are baseless and without any nexus with the present applicant. He also submits that the applicant is a peaceful resident of the above-mentioned address. He happens to be a friend of Rudra Pratap Singh, who is alleged to be the main culprit in the present case, therefore, the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present crime. He submits that in the instant matter, nothing has been seized from the possession of the present applicant. The present applicant has been falsely implicated only on the basis of the memorandum statement of the co-accused. The present applicant is a friend of co-accused Manish Parashar, and as per his memorandum statement, the present applicant had introduced him to Rudra Pratap Singh. It is alleged that upon the instigation of Rudra Pratap Singh, he purchased two SIM cards in his name, which were later taken by Rudra Pratap Singh. He also submits that the present applicant has neither received any amount in his bank 4 account nor made any call to the complainant to induce him to transfer money. He submits that in the entire charge-sheet, except for the memorandum statement of co-accused Manish Parashar, not a single piece of evidence is available against the present applicant. In the present crime, the SIM cards allegedly used for threatening the complainant or the bank accounts into which the money was transferred by the complainant do not belong to the present applicant. He submits that present applicant has no criminal antecedents and he is in jail since 20.10.2025, conclusion of the trial may take some time, therefore, he prays for grant of regular bail to the applicant.
4. On the other hand, the learned State Counsel opposes the bail application of the applicant and submits that in compliance of this Court's order dated 25.11.2025, the concerned Investigating Officer has submitted his personal affidavit, stating that the complainant Rameshwar Prasad Dewangan, a retired Assistant Grade-III from the Education Department, submitted a written complaint before Police Station Purani Basti, Raipur, stating that at about 01:30 A.M. on 14.07.2025, he received an anonymous call on his mobile number 9993383382, which he couis mobile number was being temporarily suspended for investigation purposes and that for further information he should press 0 or 9. Upon pressing 0, he was informed that FIR No. MH5621/0425 had been registered in his name and that his mobile number was under
investigation. Thereafter, at about 03:45 P.M., the name Rajneesh Mishra appeared on his phone from another number 916026940342, after which the name disappeared. Subsequently, he received a photograph and certain messages on his WhatsApp number 6260091440. It is further stated that the complainant was thereafter threatened and asked to deposit money. Being frightened, he transferred 5 Rs. 4,00,000/- on 15.07.2025 from his Punjab National Bank account (No. 2966000400075737) to Account No. 00510777875190001. On 16.07.2025, he transferred Rs. 7,00,000/- from his SBI Account No. 30653616149 to Account No. 921020039859529, and on 17.07.2025, he transferred Rs. 3,00,000/- from his Punjab National Bank account to Account No. 2395110210050539. Thus, a total amount of Rs.
14,00,000/- was fraudulently obtained by the accused persons by threatening the complainant with arrest and on the basis of the said complaint, the present crime was registered and investigation was taken up by the police authorities. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that the mobile numbers 8923427749 and 7830626195, used in the commission of the offence, belong to Manish Parashar, resident of Ward No. 25, Police Station Hathras, District Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. The said accused was summoned and interrogated, and in his memorandum statement, he disclosed that the said SIM cards were purchased in May 2025 and were later sold for Rs. 10,000/- to Arjun Singh (present accused/applicant) and Rudra Pratap Singh, who used the same in the commission of the offence. During further investigation, the present accused/applicant was summoned and interrogated. In his memorandum statement, he admitted that he, along with other accused persons, used to impersonate officials and digitally threaten people online in order to obtain money fraudulently. He further disclosed that the SIM cards were procured through Manish Parashar. If the present accused/applicant is granted bail, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, tamper with evidence, or influence witnesses, which would adversely affect the ongoing investigation. Considering the serious nature of the offence relating to cyber fraud, there is also a possibility that he may again indulge in similar criminal activities.ld not answer. 6 Approximately 15 minutes later, he received another call from mobile number 918923427749, wherein the caller claimed to be calling from the Telephone Department and informed him that his mobile number was being temporarily suspended for investigation purposes and that for further information he should press 0 or 9. Upon pressing 0, he was informed that FIR No. MH5621/0425 had been registered in his name and that his mobile number was under investigation. Thereafter, at about 03:45 P.M., the name Rajneesh Mishra appeared on his phone from another number 916026940342, after which the name disappeared. Subsequently, he received a photograph and certain messages on his WhatsApp number 6260091440. It is further stated that the complainant was thereafter threatened and asked to deposit money. Being frightened, he transferred Rs. 4,00,000/- on 15.07.2025 from his Punjab National Bank account (No. 2966000400075737) to Account No. 00510777875190001. On 16.07.2025, he transferred Rs. 7,00,000/-
from his SBI Account No. 30653616149 to Account No. 921020039859529, and on 17.07.2025, he transferred Rs. 3,00,000/-
from his Punjab National Bank account to Account No. 2395110210050539. Thus, a total amount of Rs. 14,00,000/- was fraudulently obtained by the accused persons by threatening the complainant with arrest and on the basis of the said complaint, the present crime was registered and investigation was taken up by the police authorities. During the course of investigation, it was revealed that the mobile numbers 8923427749 and 7830626195, used in the commission of the offence, belong to Manish Parashar, resident of Ward No. 25, Police Station Hathras, District Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. The said accused was summoned and interrogated, and in his memorandum statement, he disclosed that the said SIM cards were purchased in May 7 2025 and were later sold for Rs. 10,000/- to Arjun Singh (present accused/applicant) and Rudra Pratap Singh, who used the same in the commission of the offence. During further investigation, the present accused/applicant was summoned and interrogated. In his memorandum statement, he admitted that he, along with other accused persons, used to impersonate officials and digitally threaten people online in order to obtain money fraudulently. He further disclosed that the SIM cards were procured through Manish Parashar. If the present accused/applicant is granted bail, there is a strong likelihood that he may abscond, tamper with evidence, or influence witnesses, which would adversely affect the ongoing investigation. Considering the serious nature of the offence relating to cyber fraud, there is also a possibility that he may again indulge in similar criminal activities.
5. I have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the case diary.
6. Considering the submissions made by learned State Counsel and the material available on record, particularly the personal affidavit of the Investigating Officer filed in compliance with the order dated 25.11.2025, this Court finds that the present case involves a serious offence of cyber fraud wherein the complainant was allegedly threatened through impersonation and induced to transfer a total amount of Rs.14,00,000/-. The investigation reveals the involvement of the present applicant in procuring SIM cards and using them for impersonation and online threats for obtaining money fraudulently. In view of the nature and gravity of the offence and the possibility of the applicant absconding or tampering with the evidence, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to the applicant at this stage. Accordingly, the bail application deserves to be rejected.
7. Accordingly, the bail application of the applicant - Arjun Singh, involved 8 in Crime No. 282/2025 registered at Police Station Purani Basti, District - Raipur (C.G.), for the offence punishable under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, is rejected.
8. Needless to say that the trial Court concerned is at liberty to proceed and conclude the trial expeditiously.
9. Office is directed to send a certified copy of this order to the trial Court concerned for necessary information and compliance forthwith.
Sd/-
(Ramesh Sinha) Chief Justice Abhishek